So the MX5 is M.O.T'd and up for sale and my Punto Sporting 1.6 feels a little pedestrian.

I like the Punto and Bravo HGT and will have around £1,300-£1,500 to spend, but I have always loved the X-1/9

According to the Meerkats I can insure a Punto HGT for £400 and there a plenty of decent ones for around £800-£1,100. I can insure a Bravo HGT for about the same and they cost roughly the same but I'm not as much of a fan. The 155bhp engine is a little like driving with a boat anchor under the bonnet and the Bravo HLX (1.8 16V Punto HGT engine) handles better in my opinion.

If the Punto HGT handles as well as my Sporting (even with the more primitive rear suspension set up) it would be the one to go for as Bravo HLX's are a little disposable and finding a decent one is a little more difficult.

I can insure an X-1/9 for £80 so finding a good one for £1,200-£1,400 should be achievable.

I can't believe I'm about to suggest this but...

The Punto HGT would be the more sensible option.

Since when have I been sensible though?

Hmmmmmm.....

It's a hard call over the Punto or X1/9.. They are worlds apart and hardly comparable.

I would probably go for the x1/9 as I like classics but not it I were use as a daily driver. The Punto all day long for that. More reliable (in theory), more refined, good on fuel, fun to drive, parts easy to get, not gonna end up as a pile of orange dust on the drive (yet, anyway...)...

Don't rule out the Bravo. I don't think your opinion of it's handling is entirely correct. I would hardly suggest the 20v lump to be a boat anchor, nor for it to hinder the Bravo's handling. It's no nimble b road eater, but it has a good stab at it and returns a rewarding drive. I've yet to have mine understeer plus the Punto will never match the straight line speed and sound of the bravo either. The Bravo is also a much nicer place to be and far more comfortable than I ever found an MK2 Punto to be.

It's the classic "Car I'd like vs Car I'd love" head vs heart kind of thing.

The trouble with the handling front is my MkI Punto Sporting 1.6 has set the bar higher than the MkII or Bravo could think of. The Bravo I drove had been lowered and had stupid seventeen inch wheels so that could be why it felt crap. Like for like the MkII Punto is heavier, more power but that's equaled out but the rear beam set up instead of a wishbones and drivers aids like electronic power steering that is either on or off at the cost of feedback and consistency, ABS and aircon'?

I could bin the aircon' pump and fit a Vortex supercharger I guess. :devil:

Was going to tag on a bit at the end about the MK1 Punto being a better handling car than the MK2 and to go for one of them instead I wouldn't rate the MK2s electronic steering either. More hassle than it's worth and plagued with failures.

The Bravo in standard form is a very nice handling car. Not a patch on the MK1 Punto (sporting 1.2 16v I'm refering to here, as I owned one) but nice in its own right. I put 17s and low profile tyres on my previous HGT and it did change the handling for the worse. It wasn't bad as such but made the car feel disconnected from the road. They handle much better on the standard 15s and squidgy 205/50 profile tyres Never driven a lowered Bravo but it's one reason I'm reluctant to lower mine.

I like the look of this one...

https://www.fiatforum.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=31757&cat=105

...nice colour, not too faffed about with and reasonable price (I could get a Stilo Abarth for less but they're either broken or about to break). Local-ish in Norwich and I offered my MX5 as a swap but he's looking to downgrade to a more economical car.

Yeah looks alright that.

lets see you're MX-5, I always fancied one

The trouble with Bravo HGT's is the same as the Fiat Coupe' in a lot of ways. Because they depreciated so quickly raggamuffins got hold of them and for every decent one out there you have to wade through crap at the same price because that's....

eBay Seller said:

Dat is like ye nar wot day is like wuff innit? Br-br-br-brap; brap! Chair.

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...my Fantasia for example has been looked after all of her life and owned by enthusiasts who keep the car on the road. Worth much more in my opinion than one that's been found in a barn and scrapped through an MOT.

Oh poo!!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-K-FI...1367150?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item337d0d796e

Practicality of an HGT with classic insurance and Punto-esque handling. :bang:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181440093497?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Perfect and being relisted Monday.

Glasgow isn't far to go for a car.

I'd be sold on that sedicivalvole.. If its as good as it looks, get it bought.

It is a lot closer than Glasgow.

X-1/9, despite it's name sounding like a WWII secret project gets my vote

Plus I need to drive one to get the idea out of my head that it would be a good buy for myself

panda panda said:

X-1/9, despite it's name sounding like a WWII secret project gets my vote

Plus I need to drive one to get the idea out of my head that it would be a good buy for myself

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The X-1/9 I'm eyeing up is in Glasgow I can gladly stop at York on the way back South.

Liquid Knight said:

The X-1/9 I'm eyeing up is in Glasgow I can gladly stop at York on the way back South.

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You'd be more than welcome

Grrrrrr! X-1/9 man isn't answering his phone.

Liquid Knight said:

Grrrrrr! X-1/9 man isn't answering his phone.

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Bad X-1/9 man

It's Friday night and they live in Scotchlandia maybe they've fallen into a Loch of wild Haggis and Whisky?

Just a place with worse mobile phone coverage than Norfolk.

Had a chat, haggle and I'm trying to work out the logistics.

Deposit paid. :slayer:

Excellent news! We had an X1/9 for a couple of years and I'd highly recommend!